Lighting device



\NVENTOR V. WEBER LIGHTING DEVICES Filed Sept. 21, 1940 March 17, 1942.

Vw-row. WEBER HT'roRNEjr Patented'Mar. 17, 1942 LIGHTING DEVICE VictorWeber, Greensburg, Pa.,v assignor to Robertshaw Thermostat Company,Youngwood, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 21,1940, Serial No. 357,692

9 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting devices for gaseous fuel burners andmore particularly to a combined electrical ignition switch and gasvalve.

In devices of this character it is highly important from a safetystandpoint that the electric circuit to the ignition device be completedwhenever the gas valve is opened. However, where the arrangement is suchthat the opening movement of the gas valve is utilized to complete thecircuit, it often happens that ignition does not occur until after aconsiderable quantity of unburned gas has escaped. Moreover, it is notimprobable that the-gas valve may be rotated to an intermediate positionand left there without the circuit to the lighter being made. In suchevent the igniter would, of course, remain inactive even though acontinuous flow of gas occurred.

An object of this invention is to prevent opening of the gas valvewithout first completing the ignition circuit. 1

Another object of the invention is to make the sequence of operationsentirely automatic.

Another object of the invention is to permit an ignition coil used as alighting device to reach igniting temperature before the gas can flow.

Another object of the invention is to maintain the ignition circuit inconstant operation all the time that the gas is flowing.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device of a minimumnumber of parts not liable to get out of order or become subject toexcessive wear and deterioration in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a combined thermostatand gas valve showing the electrical ignition switch in place.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows but with the gas valve omitted.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 2 but taken on line 33 of Fig.1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe ignition switch shown in position in Fig. l butwith the'exteriorparts broken away.

A preferred embodiment of the combined electrical ignition switch andgas valve of this invention is shown in Fig. 1 with a thermostaticstructure with which it may be conveniently associated. The structurecomprises a main casing ll! provided with an inlet 12 for gas or otherfluid and having an end casing l4 secured thereto and provided with anoutlet IS. The end casing I4 carries the thermostatic mechanismincluding the bulb l8 and capillary tube 20. The

casing I0 is provided with a tapered valve seat 22 within which a hollowvalve member 24, having a tapered seating surface, is adapted to rotate.Communication between the inlet l2 and the interior of the hollow valvemember is afforded by oppositely disposed ports 26 formed in the valvemember and connected by an armate groove 28 in the tapered surfacethereof.

A valve stem 30 extends from the valve mem- I her through an opening 32in a cover 34, the wall of the opening being spaced from the valve stem.

The cover 34 is secured to the main casing Ill at the end opposite theend casingv I4 and is adapted to project through the front panel of agas range indicated at 36, behind which the thermostat is located withthe bulb subjected tqthe temperatures in the oven. It will be understoodthat the device may be used in connection with other types of gaseousfuel burners and that the thermostatic mechanism may be omitted withoutsacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

Oppositely disposed lugs 38 on the cover receive screws 40 which engagethe main casing Ill and serve .to secure the cover 34 in position. Therotating means for the valve member 24 includes'a dial 48 carrying atubular projection 50 which slides within the opening 32 and terminatesadjacent the inner end of the cover 34. A sleeve 52 is interposedbetween the projection 50 and the valve stem .30 and has slidingengagement with the former while being spaced from the latter. Anupturned flange 54 on the inner end of the sleeve 52 extends into a slot56 formed inthe end of the projection 50 and provides means by whichrotation of the dial may be imparted to the sleeve.

The flange 54 extends radially beyond the sleeve into an annular recess58 formed in the cover 34. The recess 58 is provided with a cam surface60 and a limit stop 62 in the form of projections thereon and spaced onefrom the other to accommodate the flange 54 therebetween. .The crest 64of the cam surface 60 is adjacent the space for the flange 54 wherebythe latter may ride up and drop into the space when the dial 48 isrotated in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Preferably, thelimit stop 62 ,is of such height as to extend from the recess 58 intosufliciently close proximity to the casing E to prevent the flange Mfrom passing therebetween and continuing the clockwise rotation. Whenthe flange 56 is within the space, its outor face lies flush with thecrest of the cam surface 60.

The end of the sleeve 52 opposite the flange is provided with oppositelydisposed tongues 60 which project therefrom into complemental slots 50formed in the outer surface of a collar l0 secured to the end of thevalve stem Bil. That portion of the valve stem Bil which lies within thesleeve 52 is preferably reduced in diameter, forming a shoulder i2against which one end of a coil spring i l abuts. The other end of thespring abuts a plurality of introverted flanges "it formed on the end ofthe sleeve 52 between the tongues 66 and serves to maintain the parts inextended relation. It will be apparent that any desired number offlanges 16 may be used as is likewise the case with the tongues 66.

The electrical ignition switch structure which operates in connectionwith the valve structure so far described may be conveniently supportedon the exterior of the cover 36 adjacent the space between the camsurface Bil and limit stop 62. In this instance a bracket I8 is securedto one of the lugs 38 on the cover 38 by means of the screws 80. Thebracket 10 has an extension 82, the inner edge of which is of arcuateshape to fit neatly around that portion of the cover lying between thelugs 38. The outer edge of the extension is provided with a flangeforming a U- shaped housing 84 extending toward the dial 48. A fixedcontact 86 is carried on a switch arm 08 secured, as by the rivet 90, toan insulating strip 92 which, in turn, is secured by the rivet 94 to theextension 02. Additional security against displacement of the switch arm80 is afforded by bending the inner end 95 thereof and embedding it inthe insulating strip 92. In order to retain the extension 82 againstlateral movement on the cover, the insulating strip 92 may project intoengagement with a retaining lug 96 on one side of the cover while thebracket 82 likewise engages a retaining lug 98 on the opposite side ofsaid cover, the arrangement being such that the extension and insulatingstrip are sandwiched between these retaining means.

A lead conductor I00 is secured to the switch arm 88, as by soldering itthereto, and may extend along the bracket 82 through a support I02formed integral with the bracket. The support is in the form of a hookfor clamping insulation I04 in engagement with the lead conductor I00. Asecond lead conductor (not shown) may be secured to the terminal I 06which may take the form of a screw inserted into the end of the bracket18 opposite the extension. A movablecontact I08 is adapted to be biasedinto engagement with the fixed contact 86 by means of a flexible switcharm IIO upon which the movable contact .I08 is carried. The flexibleswitch arm IIO extends from the contact I08 along the bracket and issecured thereto adjacent the terminal I06 by means of the rivets I I2.

Movement of the flexible switch arm H0 and 'its contact I08 away fromfixed contact 85 is effected by a pin II4 loosely fitted within anaperture H6 in the cover 34. The pin II4 forms a slidable connectionbetween flange 54 and the switch arm H0 and is of sufficient length topro- Ject beyond the cover 34 when engaged by the flange 54. A head II8on the pin II 4 is adapted to engage the flexible switch arm II and urgethe contacts apart when the flange 54 is located within the spaceadjacent the stop 62.

The construction described makes it necessary to push the dial 48inwardly toward the stove panel 36 before rotation of the valve membercan occur. Such operation causes compression of the spring I4 andengagement of the end wall of slot 56 against the flange 5 1 to move itlongitudinally out of the space between the cam surface 80 and the limitstop 62. Rotation of the dial can now occur in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2, rotation in the opposite direction beingprevented by the limit stop 62. Due to this inward movement of the dial,it will be apparent that the pressure of the flange 50 on the pin H4 hasbeen removed and the flexible switch arm can now cause the movablecontact Hi3 carried thereon to engage with the fixed contact 86. Thus,the electric circuit to the ignition device is completed before anyrotation of the gas valve has occurred. The longitudinal movement of theflange 54 which releases the gas valve for rotation and the closing ofthe contacts is simultaneous.

It is thus impossible to obtain a flow of gas without first completingthe ignition circuit, which insures maximum safety. It will further beobserved that as long as the flange 54 is removed from the space betweenthe cam surface 60 and the limit stop 62 the electrical circuit remainsconnected and that. the sequence of Operations comprising the completionof the ignition circuit and subsequent opening of the gas valve isentirely automatic in the combination described and shown.

I claim:

1. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignitionswitch, said means being adapted to be closed and opened, comprisingmeans to lock said fuel control means closed, switch contacts movable toan open position by said locking means when said fuel control means isclosed, and means for releasing said fuel control means for movement toopen position and simultaneously closing said contacts.

2. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignitionswitch, said means being rotatable between closed and open positions,

' comprising means to lock said fuel control means against rotation fromclosed position, switch contacts movable to open position by saidlocking means when said fuel control means is closed, and longitudinallymovable means for releasing said fuel control means for rotation to openposition and simultaneously closing said contacts.

3. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignitionswitch, comprising an operating member for rotating said fuel controlmeans between closed and open positions, means to lock said operatingmember against rotation from said closed position, switch contactsmovable to open position by said locking means when said fuel controlmeans is closed, and longitudinally movable means for releasing saidoperating member for rotation to said open position and simultaneouslyclosing said contacts.

4. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignitionswitch, comprising an operating member for rotating said fuel controlmeans between closed and open positions, means to lock said operatingmember against rotation from said closed position, switch contactsmovable between closed and open positions, a connection between saidlocking means and contacts for moving the latter to open position whensaid fuel control means is in closed position, and longitudinallymovable means for releasing said operating member for rotation to saidopen position and simultaneously disengaging said connection for closingsaid contacts.

5. The combination of fuel controls means and an electrical ignitionswitch, comprising an operating member for rotating said fuel controlmeans between closed and open positions, a cover for said operatingmember, means carried by said member and co-operating with said cover tolock said operating member against rotation from said closed position,switch contacts carried on said cover and movable between closed andopen positions, a slidable connection between said locking means andcontacts for moving the latter to open position when said fuel controlmeans is in closed position, and abutment means for said locking meansmovable longitudinally with respect to said operating member forreleasing said member for rotation to said open position andsimultaneously disengaging said connection for closing said contacts.

' 6. The combination of a fuel control valve and an electrical ignitionswitch, comprising a stem extending from said valve, a cover for saidstem, a sleeve secured to said stem against relative rotation but beingmovable longitudinally with respect thereto, locking means associatedwith said sleeve and cover for restraining relative rotationtherebetween, switch contacts carried on said cover and movable betweenclosed and open positions, a slidable connection movable by said lockingmeans for opening said contacts, a dialelement carried by said sleeveand rotatable therewith to open and close said valve, and abutment meanson said element engageable with the locking means upon longitudinalmovement of said dial and sleeve, thereby releasing said valve forrotation and simultaneously closing the contacts.

7. The combination of a iuel control valve and an electrical ignitionswitch, comprising a stem extending from said valve, a cover for saidstem, a sleeve secured to said stem against relative rotation, yieldablemeans coacting with said sleeve and stem for permitting relativelongitudinal movement therebetween, means for locking said sleeveagainst rotation relative to said cover, fixed and movable contactelements carried by said cover, a connection between said locking meansand movable contact adapted to hold said contact in open position, andmanually operable means for moving said sleeve relative to said stem torelease said valve for rotation andclose said contacts.

8. The combination of a fuel control valve and an electrical ignitionswitch, comprising an operating member for rotating said valve betweenclosed and open positions, a cover for said operating member, meansinterposed between and coacting with said cover and operating member'for locking said member in said closed position, a fixed contactcarried on said cover, a movable contact carried on said cover andbiased toward closed position with said fixed contact, said contactsbeing exterior of said cover opposite said locking means, and a slidableconnection extending through said cover between the looking means andmovable contact, said connection extending beyond the cover for holdingsaid con tact in open position when the valve is locked in closedposition.

9. The combination of a fuel control valve and an electrical ignitionswitch, comprising an operating member for rotating said valve betweenclosed and open positions, a cover for said operating member, meansinterposed between and coacting with said cover and ope ating member forlocking said member in close position, said means being yieldable topermit longitudinal movement relative to said cover, a fixed contactcarried on said cover, a movable contact carried on said cover andbiased toward closed position with said fixed contact, said contactsbeing exterior of said cover opposite said locking means, a slidableconnection extending through said cover between the locking means andmovable contact, said connection extending beyond the cover for holdingsaid contact in open position when the valve is locked in closedposition, and manually operable means for effecting said longitudinalmovement of the locking means to release said valve for rotation andsimultaneously close said contacts.

VICTOR WEBER.

